Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-04-06
Stannton Spectator,
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1887.
The Fall Campaign-The Spring Elections.

The Fall Campaign-The Spring Elections.
The agitators in the Republican party
who are the most expert dodgers and will
ing to entail any amount of trouble upon
the people, if thereby they can be returned
to power, are assuming that their success
in the Congressional elections last year was
an approval of their methods, and that a
revolution of sentiment has taken place,
and that party strength in Virginia has
been reversed. Following up their tactics,
they strive to embitter the uniformed
voter against any and every effort made by
the Democrats to lead the State out of its
perplexities. They would see its pros
pcrity forever hindered rather than to have
it said that a Democratic Governor, and
Legislature in sympathy with his views and
feelings, succeeded in accomplishing its de-
liverance and received the approval of the
people for the effort they are making in
that direction. This faction prefer to ex-
hibit themselves to the world as snarling,
plotting set of grumblers, willing to turn
their backs on the measure of financial
relief for which their own party endeavored
to secure the acceptance of the States credi-
tors. Neither that nor any amendment to
it, acceptable to the bondholders, and SO
just in it's provision as to claim the acqui-
essence of the people, has any merit until
after they can have the opportunity to
revile it, in order that lost power may be
regained, and then, if successful, be willing
to stultify themselves by accepting it as a
proper and just policy. Their promises
and their pledges are no more reliable than
the changeable wind for they seek not to
accomplish the just aim of Government,
but rather that it shall be to them power
to bestow rewards with no higher aim or
purpose in view.
Whether the hope of all true men-a
fiAal settlement of the State debt-be ac-
complished OF not, thus far the wisdom of
Governor Lee in assembling the Legislature
has been indicated by the proceedings of
that body. If the indications given out by
the bondholders in their communication to
LuS OOv0IuOI dIo doAclC1 bO3 lludI oObolS-
ment acceptable to the great body Of the
people will come to pass and that good
result will follow to the commentator and
praise of those who were instrumental in
efecting it. Certain it is, too, if not &C
complished, the efforts made to that end
and the sincerity guiding their delibera-
lions will be adjudged by all fair-minded
men as equal to the occasion, and that
human effort could accomplish no more
= But there is good ground at this time to
believe that the end is near at hand, and
that dismay awaits the grumblers and the
discontents who subordinate the public
veal to party and selfish gain.
The Democratic party does not accept
the offices rendered by its interruptions as
sailant and would-be advisors. 1t prefers
not to be weighed in the balances where
false weights are known to be. 1t does
not accept as a fact that the failure to vote
last Fall has withdrawn from its ranks SC
large portion of its strength. There will
be State Convention of the party this
Summer and the plan of the campaign an
nounced in coed time. Though the manip-
ulations Of local questions and the harm
done by the inactivity in the Congressional
elections nay have tendency to weaken
some of our strength in the contest to fol
low, these things will inspire to renewed
effort the unflinching men who have been
in all the fights aud have come out of them
with mistaken courage and determination.
If the debt trouble be removed, the people
will know who did it. If it be net, they
will also know who it was that tried earn
estly aud faithfully to accomplish that end
Nor will they fail to remember those who
opposed and endeavored to thwart these
purposes. Under any circumstances which
may come to pass the Democratic party
will occupy strong ground and can assai
their opponents at every point. Failure IL
support the Governor and the Legislature
in a crisis like this is delinquency bad
enough of itself, but the spirit and the
Vaccinations which beset their efforts
with underhanded thrusts, will become q
reproach and their spurned appliances will
rebound to their own infamy.
Our old leader, Mr.. Barbour, is again al
the head of the Democratic organization
That fact is already giving new strength tt
our ranks and is effectually carrying dis.
may to the opposition.
The Republican party, during its whole
history, has sought to make the rich richer
and the poor poorer. In its exercise Of
power it sought to entail upon the country
as the means of doing so, government
made up Of the few-of monopolsts and
millionaires. The legislation which ii
favored was for preferred classes-to make
favored few wealthy at the expense and
the utter neglect of the agricultural inter.
est that represents eight-tenths of the
power and commerce of the country. A
party which, from it's national down to its
smallest Neutrality-suspicious. manipulates
for corrupt purposes, and seeks to foment
discard and strife between the people
without regard to consequences that its
devotees may prosper, is no better now
than it has been, and this should Of itself
for all time prevent any association with it
of Democrats who have commended against
it. Certainly it cannot be that those who
failed to vote in the late Congressional
election discovered then Or since new
merits in its composition or that they in.
ta d now to be numbered in its ranks
The present tactics for distributing county
offices in the May elections for the benefit
of the Republican party should be sufficient
to excite the condemnation of the Demo
Gratis everywhere. In the counties where
that party has the ascendancy, party lines
are drawn tightly and party fealty and
service are the tests for office. In Demo
cratic counties, a different set of tactics is
made out for their guidance. Dissimula-